Roland PMA-5 Personal Music Assistant

January 18, 1996 -- Roland's new PMA-5 Personal Music Assistant represents a completely new concept in personal backing machines. Looking like a palm-held digital organizer for musical applications, the PMA-5 is unique. Much more than a simple rhythm device, the PMA-5 offers unprecedented user ease and performance flexibility. This little dynamo features a high quality GM/GS sound source, an eight-track sequencer and a powerful intelligent arranger. One look is all it takes to see just how different the PMA-5 really is.

The PMA-5 is controlled using a touch-panel interface. This innovative and extremely user-friendly interface makes the PMA-5 the perfect compositional tool for virtually anyone. All functions are accessed, via a touch-pen or your finger, using the touch-panel and visually verified on the very same screen; there are no knobs on the PMA-5, except for the volume knob. The touch-panel layout is unusually intuitive and it feels very familiar, even to non-musicians.

The integrated sequencer and intelligent arranger offer four melody tracks and four backing tracks. Music data can be entered in realtime or with step recording. A large memory affords instant recall of up to 20 songs (approximately 21,000 notes). The sophisticated intelligent arranger functions are newly created to emulate many of today's hit songs and musical genres. There are 100 preset Music Styles, including intros and endings, and user patterns can be created and stored as well.

The PMA-5 can connect directly to Macintosh or IBM compatible computers using the serial computer port. Once connected, song and pattern data can be exchange between the PMA-5 and the computer. Data created on the PMA-5 can be edited more precisely by downloading it into a computer with a software-based sequencer. Also, sequences created on the computer can be loaded for playback from the PMA-5. This is perfect for live gigging. Standard MIDI File (SMF) song data can also be imported to the PMA-5.

Drawing from the extensive Roland sound library, the PMA-5 sound source offers 306 instruments and 16 drum sets which are GM/GS compatible. Powerful onboard effects include eight types of digital reverb and chorus. By connecting an external sequencer or MIDI keyboard, the PMA-5 can function as a compact 16-part multitimbral GM/GS sound module.

The compact size of the PMA-5 means you can create music wherever and whenever you want. It is completely portable and can operate for about five hours using six AA batteries. An AC adaptor can also be used. An "organizer" type cover protects the touch-panel and a built-in headphone jack affords easy monitoring, no matter where you are. With batteries it still weighs only one pound, six ounces. The PMA-5 is definitely an exciting new development for both live and recording applications; there is really nothing else like it!

For more information, visit their web site at www.rolandus.com.